ZineQuest has always been the breeding ground for projects that prioritize a singular, sharp vision over broad-market appeal. The latest entry making waves is Knightcore, a project that is leaning heavily into what I call the high-fashion chivalry aesthetic. We are talking about gleaming plate armor, flowing silks, and swords that look like they were forged from moonlight. It is a striking departure from the mud-caked, grimdark aesthetic that has dominated the indie scene since the Mork Borg boom.

From a mechanical perspective, the crunch-to-fluff ratio is the big question mark here. In a zine-sized format, you do not have space for a 400-page tactical manual. For Knightcore to succeed at the table, the rules need to facilitate the grace of its art. I am looking for systems that treat style as a functional resource. If the dueling mechanics do not offer more than a standard d20 roll-to-hit, the game risks being a beautiful book that stays on the shelf. We need mechanics that reward the flourish—perhaps a momentum system or a flair economy that allows players to trade positioning for social standing or ethereal power.

Regarding the fluff, the setting seems to reject the subverted tropes we have seen in recent years. Instead of the knight being a secret monster or a fallen drunkard, Knightcore embraces the ethereal hero. This is a world where a character's internal conviction likely manifests as that titular glow. It is a bold move to return to sincere heroism, and it provides a different kind of narrative hook for GMs who are tired of every NPC being a double-crossing backstabber. The lore suggests a world of high-contrast morality and visual splendor.

At the table, the feel of Knightcore will likely appeal to the theater-of-the-mind enthusiasts rather than the hex-grid tacticians. This is a game for players who want to spend ten minutes describing the embroidery on their tabard and how it catches the light of a dying sun. If the system can provide enough mechanical weight to make those descriptions matter in a combat encounter, we could have a cult classic on our hands. It is about capturing that specific feeling of being a legend in motion, provided the GM has the tools to make the gleaming armor feel like more than just a high AC stat.